Dragon Tiger

The game is usually dealt from an eight-deck shoe. Players bet on Dragon, Tiger or a tie, and the dealer turns over one card for each position. Cards rank from ace, which is low, up to king, which is high, and suits do not matter for the main bets. The higher card wins. If both cards are the same rank, the round is a tie.

Dragon and Tiger bets pay 1:1. If the round ties, most tables return half of each Dragon and Tiger bet. With eight decks and that rule, the house edge on the main bets is about 3.7%, higher than baccarat's Player and Banker bets. The Tie bet commonly pays 11:1 at live tables, with a house edge of roughly 10% at that price; lower tie payouts raise the edge considerably. A suited tie side bet, where both cards match in rank and suit, typically pays 50:1. Many versions add side bets on whether a position's card is big or small, odd or even, or a particular suit.

Dragon Tiger is a staple of live casino lobbies aimed at Asian players, where baccarat-style games dominate. Its speed means many rounds per hour, and its simple result suits mobile play, prediction-style side bets and results displayed as "road" maps like those used in baccarat. For studios, it can be dealt from the same tables and shoes as baccarat, which makes it inexpensive to add.

A player bets 10 on Dragon. Dragon draws a 9 and Tiger a 4, so the player wins 10. Had both cards been 9s, the round would tie and the player would get 5 back.

• Baccarat — the game Dragon Tiger is derived from.
• House edge — why the half-back rule sets the main bets' margin.
• Live dealer — the format through which most Dragon Tiger is played.
• The rise of Macau — the market behind the popularity of Asian card games.

Compare the studios that stream Dragon Tiger in the live casino provider directory, or RNG versions from game developers.